Science Memes @mander.xyz A Basil Plant @lemmy.world 6 mo. ago

Slightly less than two drinks = positive effect on programming ability

Abstract (emphasis mine):

The concept of a 'Ballmer Peak' was first proposed in 2007, postulating that there exists a very specific blood alcohol content which confers superhuman programming ability. More generally, there is a commonly held belief among software engineers that coding is easier and more productive after a few drinks. Using the industry standard for assessment of coding ability, we conducted a search for such a peak and more generally investigated the effect of different amounts of alcohol on performance. We conclusively refute the existence of a specific peak with large magnitude, but with p < 0.001 find that there was a significant positive effect to a low amount of alcohol - slightly less than two drinks - on programming ability.

75 comments

https://xkcd.com/323

There's obviously an xkcd for this
- The concept of a 'Ballmer Peak' was first proposed in 2007
  
  where do you thnk it was proposed?
- I'd argue that this is for the XKCD, not the other way around.
- The centre is .1337
  
  p < .0001337
- Posted Oct. 1 2007.
  
  "first proposed in 2007"
  
  I wonder if Randall has seen this?
- Lol that is Fig 1. In the paper :)
The Inebriati strike again.
- https://youtu.be/-Zj50DmBFp0
I've found that the best way to utilize alcohol when programming is to code sober and comment drunk. It's a wonderful way to make commenting both fun to write and to read later.

I have tried coding under the influence, but I can't do it. Even small amounts of alcohol makes it really hard to do anything complex. But if it works for you, good on ya.
- Also works for customer service. Have a ridiculously minor issue that really doesn't matter but still irks a small part of you and you're too much of a wimp to speak up about? Check your sent folder in the morning after a night of drinking.
  
  Protip: support@company.com.
- I did some of my best problem solving on Vicodin.
  
  Two beers and I'm fully functional.
"Ancient Persians reportedly debated big decisions twice: once drunk and once sober."

https://historyfacts.com/world-history/fact/ancient-persians-reportedly-debated-big-decisions-twice-once-drunk-and-once-sober/
- Modern Persians still do so too, just a little bit illegally
Knew a guy in university that looked like a young Prince Charles that would pop half a tab of LSD whenever he ran into an issue he couldn't solve. Somehow that worked.

This was in the late 90s early 00s, well before Randall made the comic about The Ballmer Peak
- Microdosing LSD is a common thing nowadays in the tech world. It definitely increases your creativity and mental energy, so it makes sense. Your friend was probably ahead of the curve. I'm not sure if the idea was as popular back then.
  
  The rest of use were tending towards macro dosing. He may have known about it, but he didn't really talk about it that much. Certainly wasn't encouraging other to try it.
I once worked in IT for an MSP that kept beer on tap in the office for this exact reason. Techs were encouraged to have a beer or two when stumped on an issue. It worked surprisingly well.

This did result in a few years of struggling with alcohol issues tho.
- #1544 - I can no longer code without drinking at least 3 glasses of beer, am I becoming an alcoholic? - [Duplicate] [Won't fix]
I absolutely know this is case with my writing. Really helps you enter a flow state. Not to be trifled with, Mitchell and Webb did a sketch on it actually and they also went with "just under two drinks".
- Here's the sketch: https://youtu.be/VTSCppeFzX4?si=kXnXSTiF1xWo-d9J
- Yeah, I was thinking this seems to be the case with many things, not just programming. Just don't drive please.
- I do it with many drinks and then send before I sober up. You just have to pray that you never see that text again.
  
  Write drunk, edit sober.
- Came here to say this, a glass of wine is a great help
Permanently Deleted
Alcohol is considered a performance-enhancing drug in darts.

For programming, it works the same way as playing music: your focus narrows. Your brain can't do other stuff, either because it's busy moving your neck in time with Meshuggah, or because it's been lightly poisoned by delicious ethanol.
The idea that drinking helps has been around a lot longer than 2007. Since basically the discovery of alcohol. Yes, it can help with nerves a little bit, but none of your skills are improved, and most are impaired.
- Maybe it depends upon the person.
  I have difficulty programming properly while listening to music so maybe I'd find it hard to do so with alcohol too.
  
  In my case, it's probably because I tend to keep as much of the context as possible into my current memory, which gets reduced if I'm distracted by sounds (whether music or noise). The ADHD Relief music tracks tend to work well though, since they aren't very distracting and help get rid of other peoples' noise.
This also works for pool. Don't ask me how I know.
In my experience I can write more code after a few drinks. However I usually find that the code is of low quality when I check it the next day…
- Really? I've written code so advanced while drunk that I couldn't even understand it the next day, but it did what it was supposed to do and solved complex issues.
  
  If you can’t understand it, is it high quality?
  
  So you're saying you can't write readable code while drunk
I have written brilliant code while drunk that I didn't understand the next day. I doubt I could have even solved the problem sober.
I cannot code unless sober from all stimulants except coffee.
- Alcohol is not a stimulant.
  
  Fine, depressant or stimulant.
I think this may be true for many things.
- I'm a better dirt bike rider after a couple of beers. The beer relaxes you and your body just does what it needs to do, instead of tensing up with fear.
  
  Maybe that's true, but is it really worth the risk?
  
  You sound like a donorcycle rider. One who is casual about potentially traumatising and/or injuring others.
Surely that's work worthy of an IG Nobel prize?
This applies to a lot of physical activities as well. I have a friend who's a really good bowler, and every one of his 300 games (perfect score for you non-bowlers) has been when he's had exactly 2 drinks. He can't do it with less because he gets too nervous - and more means he gets too sloppy and loses his edge.

We joke and call beer "bowling juice".
- I've also found another peak somewhere after 6, I lost count. I couldn't stand straight but I went like 34 kills to 6 deaths in a vr shooter.
The Unity office in Bellevue used to have beer on tap in the cafeteria. Idk if it still does what with all the fuckery going on... Maybe one day I'll actually go into the office and I can report back
- If you walk around Microsoft's office buildings, you'll see several people's personal offices with full bars in them.
- Humblebrag
  
  I don't understand? It seemed like a fun and relevant tidbit to me. Also there is no bragging about working for Unity anymore the place is a disaster
I tried coding while 420 once. Could not think straight.
- I can imagine being that old would make it difficult to think straight, tbh. What's your secret?
  
  Permanently Deleted
- Use your time travel abilities more wisely friend.
I have a Balmer Peak when golfing. Three beers in and i’m a scratch golfer. 4 and I’m Happy Gilmore on his first outing.
Apparently Mr. Ballmer is a real programmer at Microsoft. Even better, he was still working at Microsoft in 2007 when the comic came out, but retired a few years later.
- He was the CEO at the time, and I don't know that he was ever involved with writing any code.
  
  But he loved those DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS!
I wonder if there's a comparable effect for machining
- You should propose this research; maybe you can get a grant!
  
  Eh I'd have to be in the control group

You've viewed 75 comments.